Image File Types

Trying to decide whether to save your image as a .jpg or .png? See below to find the best option for you!

JPEG Files

JPG and JPEG files are the same. Windows used to require 3 character extensions.


Everything You Need to Know About JPEG Files - from Adobe

Best Use:

  • Online photos or images without transparent elements

Pros:

  • Most universally recognized — compatible with most browsers, software, and apps

  • Loads faster on websites

  • Great for photographs

  • Usually provides more accurate colors

  • Smaller file size while still retaining detail

Cons:

  • Lossy file type instead of lossless file type, so a loss in quality can occur each time it is opened/saved

  • Doesn’t support transparent backgrounds

 

PNG Files


What are PNG files and how do you open them? - From Adobe

Best Use:

  • Web graphics with sharp edges, lots of figures, and transparent elements

Pros:

  • Supports transparent backgrounds

  • Great for simple graphics with fewer colors than a photo

  • Sometimes, files can be smaller than a jpg if it is a graphic element with only a few solid colors

  • Can be edited/saved unlimited times without losing any quality since they use less compression

Cons:

  • Files are bigger since they retain a lot more information

  • Slower loading times when viewing online

SVG Files


SVG Files: How to Create, Edit and Open Them - from Adobe

Best Use:

  • Web graphics — icons, logos, illustrations, and infographics

Pros:

  • Always maintain their resolution — no matter how large or small you make them

  • Basic SVG files are often smaller than most other images.

  • Screen readers can scan any words contained in SVG images

Cons:

  • Lack of pixels makes displaying high-quality digital photos difficult

    • JPGs are generally better for detailed photographs

TIFF Files

TIFF files are not intended for online use. Convert to either PNG or JPG for Canvas courses.


What are TIFF files an dhow do you open them? - from Adobe

Best Use:

  • Extremely Large Prints (e.g. billboards)

  • Storing high-quality photographs and high-resolution scans locally on your machine

  • Container file to store multiple lower quality jpg files within the same tiff file

Pros:

  • Similar to a PNG, they have lossless compression and don’t lose quality when edited/saved

  • Support transparent backgrounds in images/graphics

  • Store extra information such as additional layers, which can be opened in Photoshop

Cons:

  • Poor choice for websites; can slow a website’s loading speed

    • Lighter file formats, like JPG, might be more useful for online images

  • Detail and resolution lead to quite large files

  • Take up more storage space

  • Their size makes them difficult to share

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